Echolalia is the repetition of words, phrases, or sounds that someone has heard immediately after hearing them or later. It’s commonly associated with conditions like autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Still, it can also occur in other situations, such as developmental delays, Tourette syndrome, or as part of language development in young children.
There are two types of echolalia:
- Immediate: Repeating words or phrases immediately after hearing them. For example, if someone says, “Do you want water?” the individual responds by repeating, “Do you want water?” instead of answering the question.
- Delayed: Repeating words or phrases after a time delay, sometimes hours, days, or even weeks later. This could happen during a conversation when the person recalls something they’ve previously heard.
Echolalia can serve various functions, including communication attempts, self-regulation, or as a coping mechanism. While it may seem repetitive, echolalia can also be part of how some people with autism or communication difficulties process and learn language.
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Meaningful Speech TM is the creator of courses and resources focused on child-led therapy, neurodiversity-affirming speech-language therapy, gestalt language processing, and the Natural Language Acquisition (NLA) framework developed by Marge Blanc (2012).
